What's on in Kumamoto, Japan through the year

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Mount Aso crater alerts

  1 Jan – 31 DecVolcanic activityClosures

  Nakadake is the day trip everyone books and the one that gets cancelled: the crater rim closes without notice on gas readings or a raised alert, and has been shut for long stretches. Check before you drive out. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Castle cherry blossom, Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

• Nature

  Castle cherry blossom

  25 Mar – 10 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  The castle grounds are the city's hanami spot and the reconstruction scaffolding does not put anyone off. Kyushu goes early, so this is usually done before the Tokyo reports start. Source ↗

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Castle cherry blossom, Golden Week

• Holiday

  Golden Week

  29 Apr – 5 MayCrowdedBook early

  The week the country drives, and Kumamoto is on the road to Aso and the Kurokawa hot springs. Expect the Aso road to move at walking pace and the ryokan to have been taken in winter. Source ↗

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Castle cherry blossom (25 Mar – 10 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Golden Week, Golden Week in Japan

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Golden Week (29 Apr – 5 May)

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  1 Aug – 30 Sep · usuallyClosures

  Kyushu takes more direct hits than anywhere else in Japan and a landfall stops the trains and the airport for a day. Storms are not spread evenly through the year and these are the two months. Source ↗

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Fujisaki Hachimangu autumn festival, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Fujisaki Hachimangu autumn festival

  10–20 Sep · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The city's own festival, run around decorated horses and a drumming crowd that walks them through the centre for hours. Roads shut and the whole place turns out for it. Source ↗

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Typhoon season (1 Aug – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Mount Aso crater alerts (1 Jan – 31 Dec)